Cherry pitter having safety and convenience

Abstract

A safe and convenient cherry pitting device that includes a freestanding detachable base, a fruit support and pitter passthrough unit and a pitter containment cone. The unit is adapted for vertical mounting on the base. Further, the unit defines axially aligned top and bottom openings and one or more side openings. The pitter containment cone generally has a cone shaped outer surface including one or more walls defining a central cavity with a top closed end and a bottom open end for placement over the unit. The cone also includes a pitter bit that projects vertically downward within the top closed end of the cone in axial alignment with the top and bottom openings of the unit.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 300,673 filed Feb. 2, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Cherries have long been used in food and drink production due in part to their distinct flavor. Some of the earliest records indicate that cherries have been consumed since prehistoric times as a source of nutrients as cherries are high in carbohydrates. Cherries are often consumed in their unaltered state, but they have also been an ingredient in almost all forms of food for human consumption, although desserts are the most popular. Cherries are often used in pies, tarts, doughnuts, cakes, cobblers, cookies and even in carbonated and alcoholic beverages, more recently, it has been discovered that cherries also contain anthocyanins which may act as a natural anti-inflammatory. These anthocyanins are also a good source of antioxidants, which can help the human b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The invention includes a cherry pitter that reduces the mess involved in the pitting process. The pitter includes a compression action that is safe and easy for

Problems solved by technology

While the cherry is consumed in great numbers, as shown above, the structure of the fruit itself provides a challenge to the consumer.

While this method has worked for thousands of years, it also makes the use of cherries in recipes and for raw consumption difficult due to the cherry seed or pit, which is at the center of the cherry.

However, while the cherry pitter has been in the market for years, they all fail to provide an enjoyable cherry pitting experience.

While this design in somewhat simplistic, it also leaves a great deal to be desired.

In using this design, there is no protection for the errant finger to be placed in the path of the depressing pitting tip.

This may put the operator's or other's fingers at risk of injury.

Further, the thumb plunger design often is not easy to use as it requires the operator to place the cherry correctly in the molded cherry holder and continually depress the plunger.

Further, these types of pitters are not ergonomic as they require the operator to continually use their fingers to hold, and depress the plunger, which can contort the hands into unnatural positions and cause fatigue in the hand muscles, reducing the number of cherry pittable during a pitting session.

Some designs utilize a spring to return the plunger to an open position; however, while the spring acts as a return, it also provides additional resistance t

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